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Speaker suggestions

I have had the same speakers(signet 280ex) for about 15 years. It is time to replace them. They are really mid-fi. My first listen was comparing them to a pair of Dali Ikon 6's. The Ikon's bested my speaker in every category! Detail, Dynamics, Bass, Bass Clarity, Evenness across the frequencies. BUT I did find the Dali's too bright for my tastes, plus the drop in the American Dollar has caused the price of the Dali's to go from $1550 to $1750 to now $1900! Literally 3 or 4 months ago this same speaker would have cost me nearly $200 less. A year before that $350 less. I considered the Jean-Marie Reynaude Euterpe, but those went from $1995 to $2895 4 months ago- $900 more!!!

Sooooo, I am looking for suggestions for speakers....preferabally something not imported from Europe.

My System:

VPI HW19JR
Audioquest PT6 tonearm
Soon to be Benz Woodbody "S" cartridge
Nova Phonomena Phonostage
Magnum Integrated Amplifier

Qualities I am looking for:

- $1000-$3000 (used is OK)

- Looking for something that plays all kinds of music well - Rock, Jazz, Pop, Classical, Blues, etc.

- Good soundstaging and body

- Neutral (my space has concrete floors...so nothing too bright)

- Dynamic with some slam - I listen to all kinds of music, but mostly Rock.

- Smooth

Thanks in advance!
carter9000
blcube
94 posts
 
my vote is still for the Caravelle.I would still buy these
Speaker again and love what they can do with Music.
carter9000 OP
23 posts
 
Listened
Just got back from listening to more speakers. Here are my thoughts:

Thiel CS 1.6
The speaker was even more detailed than the Dali Ikon 6 and just as good, if not better than the Dali at soundstaging. One of the records I use in my audition is the El Topo soundtrack. The flute player on “The Desert Is A Circle” was mind blowingly realistic. I swear I could see the Flute Players lips on the instrument. This same feeling was present while listening to the Dali’s, but not this realistic! On the downside, the Thiel had no deep base whatsoever! Plus it was leaner than the Dali….a little on the hot side, but not as pronounced . I guess it sounded like the leanness was more evenly spread across the high frequencies and the Dali it was litterly a bump in only the highest frequencies (cymbols). Again, not sure this speaker would jive well in my space.

PSB Synchrony One ($4500)
Out of my price range, but the dealer didn’t have the Synchrony Two in stock to listen to, so I thought I would listen to these. Boy, I was disappointed in this speaker as well. Goes to show you that you can’t rely just on reviews. You have to listen to the products and make your own judgments. These got a Class A rating in Stereophile! I just didn’t see it. Maybe it was because I auditioned these at the same dealer where I auditioned the Thiel’s. John Atkinson thought they soundstage well…I can’t say that I thought the same. These too were on the dark side of the fence like my signets. For $4500 they didn’t sound that much better than my old $1000 Signets….

Martin Logan Source ($1995)
Didn’t listen long to these either. I just couldn’t get over the off axis response. If you even move your head a little bit the high frequencies dropped off. Stand up or walk off to the side and forget about it! Plus the base frequencies coming from the cone portion sounded boxy to me.

The quest continues.
sthomas12321
408 posts
 
My opionion, the Paradigm Signature s2's. Amazing with a good sub. Ive owned the gallo's listed above and didnt like them much at all.
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